Mountain View Church is a responsible member of the community and wants to be part of the solution. 

We would greatly appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we take these precautionary measures at Mountain View Church:

1. In line with guidance from the Australian Department of Health, if you / your children have travelled anywhere overseas within the last two weeks, please use wisdom and self-isolate at home for a period of 14 days from the date of return to Australia.
2. Regardless of your travel history, if you/your children should feel unwell or experience any symptoms, please do seek medical attention and take time to rest and fully recuperate at home. This will help prevent the possible spread of the virus and protect the people around us. 
3. Be alert in taking the necessary precautions regarding your own health, especially if you have been travelling or are planning to travel overseas. Stay up to date via the Department of Health
4. Build a strong and healthy immune system by following health practices that are well-known to us: eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, expose yourself to some sunlight, get some fresh air, and rest.
5. Parents, please take a moment to read the following factsheet provided by the Department of Health: information for parents. If your children have symptoms like fever, cough or runny nose, they may be asked to go home to rest and to seek medical attention. We thank you in advance for your understanding.
6. As is good practice, cough into your elbow, and be extra vigilant in washing your hands - please emphasise this with your children. 
7. No shaking of hands, no hugs or close personal contact. Please don’t be offended if someone refuses to shake your hand. We need understanding and a spirit of cooperation to protect everyone, including yourself.
8. We strongly recommend that older members choose not to attend house gatherings for the next few Sabbaths. If you are over 60, this is very important to consider.
9. We encourage you to check with your neighbours and friends if they need any help, this is an opportunity to minister and live love.

Further to the above, we are also implementing the following actions:

1. Suspending worship services and moving to livestream. We ask you to meet in small groups of less than 10 at your home to view the service and interact in Connect Groups.
2. Cancelling all other church services and activities including; Pathfinders, Adventurers, DCA Training, Sports nights, Prayer Meeting and Connections until further notice.
3. Encourage eGiving
4. Cancelling all Camps and Fundraisers

These measures will be updated as the situation and information at hand is updated.

If you are in need of assistance with anything or just need to talk, please contact us.

If you are healthy but isolating yourself from larger groups during this time, maintaining a sense of community through Connect Groups and other fellowship will be important. Gather with friends, keep social distance, and look for opportunities to safely serve others. Church is not the just a worship service, it is the community of Christ coming together, and where one or two are gathered, the Holy Spirit is present.

Regarding your tithes and offerings, please take advantage of eGiving.

If the Australian Government announces further gathering restrictions, we will comply and follow their instructions. 

In these times of physical distancing, we can of course continue to remain connected through various other means. We encourage you to do the following:

1. 'Like' Mountain View Church on facebook and invite others you know to like it too. Content is regularly shared there and it is another place to interact.
2. ‘Follow’ Mountain View Church on instagram for bible verses and church related images and inspiration
3. Visit the Mountain View Church website regularly to remain up to date
4. Subscribe and Read our Church Newsletter which will be sent regularly with updated information
5. Watch the Mountain View Church livestream on Facebook each week and interact with us
6. Continue to meet together in small numbers to engage and share life together. 
7. Give your tithe and offerings online using eGiving. This is critical when we are not meeting together. Apart from day to day running costs which will still exist, we also have loan repayments to service. Systematic online giving is going to be vital if we are to survive the coming months. We ask that you setup a regular donation option.
8. Contact each other regularly via phone to check-in and check-up. 
9. Stay tuned for further creative options that we can gather together as a church community.
10. Look for the many opportunities to serve others in and around your home, now is the time for us to be part of the solution.

Fear is a faithless coward and has no place in the lives of believers. Fear and worry have no seat at our table. We're here because God wants us here, right now, for His purpose.

Coronavirus wants you to isolate and stock up and take care of your own first. Instead, look to Him first while you take care of others. In community, we can do so much more than we can do on our own.

Ultimately, even as we pursue preventative measures and exercise wisdom in keeping ourselves and loved ones safe, our faith and security is in Jesus Christ. God has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Let’s pray, help as we can, and protect the most vulnerable in our community. I pray His promise of protection over you and your family. Let’s also pray for those affected around the world, and that the virus will be quickly contained and conquered. 

Many blessings to you.

Raul Moran

Lead Pastor

Mountain View Church